Aerial bucket tramway



Jan. 27, 1942. J LLOYD v v 2,271,082

AERIAL BUCKET TRAMWAY Filed July 11, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet l E. J.'LLOYD AERI-AL BUCKET TR-AMWAY Jmzv, 1942.

Filed July 11, 1940 I 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIE. 3.

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Jan. 27, 1942. E. J. LLOYD AERIAL BUCKET TRAMWAY Filed July 11, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 1760676507.. fZ/VEE J 20m,

Maw/7 Patented Jan. 27, 1942 UNITED STAT AERIAL BUCKET TRAMWAY Elmer J. Lloyd,

American. Steel and 2 Claims. (01.214-60) This invention relates to aerial bucket tramways of the type used to carry material from a loading point to various positions over a dumping area and there dump the material. One object is to control the dumping operation in a positive manner by the use of a simple and inexpensive arrangement.

A specific example of the invention is illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan. of such atramway;

Figure 2 is an elevation;

Figure 3 is a detailed top view of the bucket;

Figure 4 is a detailed side view of the bucket;

Figure 5 is a detailed front fragmentary view of the bucket;

Figure 6 is a detailed front-view of a device for showing the bucket position;

Figure '7 is a vertical section of Figure 6 taken from line VIIVII; and

Figure 8 is a cross section of Figure '7 from the line VIIL-VIII.

More specifically these drawings illustrate a double-reversible bucket tramway of the twin track-cable type. Thus twin cables provide fiaring aerial tracks I and 2 between which the traction rope 3 travels in the form of an endless loop guided by various sheaves 4, the loop be-' ing powered by a drum 5 driven by an electric motor 6. A bucket 1 rides each of the tracks I and 2, the traction rope being spaced from the track cables by being-positioned between'them.

Each bucket has wheels 8 which run on the track cables and is provided with a dumping door 9 closed by a latch I0 and which opens due to the weight of the load in the bucket, upon re lease of the latch ID. The traction rope is, in each instance, connected to the buckets, the arrangement usually being such that one bucket is at the loading position while the other is at its dumping position. Incidentally the loading position is near the motor 6, a spring bumper ll being arranged in the path of each of the buckets so as to stop them beneath the loading arrangement I2, these bumpers also functioning to make sure the doors of the buckets are latched shut, the bumpers engaging the buckets by way of their doors for that purpose.

The problem with which the present invention is concerned is that of controlling the latches H! on the buckets so as to effect dumping at the dumping location. This problem has been attacked by various inventors who have developed various arrangements, but in each instance these have certain inherent disadvantages.

In the case of the present invention, the track- Worcester, Mass, assignor to The I Wire Company of New Jersey, a corporation of New Jersey Application July 11, 1940, Serial No. 344,979

cables forming the tracks are electrically insulated from the traction rope 3. This may be done in various ways and is easily within the ability of those skilled in the art. The traction rope connects with each of the buckets through electrical insulators l3, this being necessary to isolate the track-cables from the traction'rope.

Each bucket has its latch operated by an electric motor M of the type which, when constantly powered, will effect movement of a limited extent and which will not be damaged by remaining energized after the movement ceases. An example of such a motor is the so-called thrustor which is familiar to everyone. This motor I4 is in each instance electrically connected with the traction rope by a wire [5 and with the trackcables by being grounded to the bucket structure. With this very simple arrangement dumping can be effected as desired simply by establishing an electric circuit through the track-cables I, the motor 14 and the traction rope 3.

Establishment of this circuit is shown as being effected by way of supply lines I 6 connecting with the track-cables and the traction rope and controlled by a switch [1. It is to be noted that although operation of this switch efiects unlatching of the doors of both buckets'simulta-v neously, this is unimportant because the loaded bucket will be discharged while in motion traveling away from the loading point and the empty bucket is approaching the loading point.

It is common to provide tramways with a bucket indicator l8 worked through a drive l9 by one of the traction rope sheaves so as-to' render this indicator responsive to movement of the bucket along the track. Such an indicator ordinarily includes a threaded shaft 20 turned by the drive I9 and working a nut 2| which moves apointer along an indicator scale. Advantage is taken of this to provide the indicator IS with a contactor 22 carried by a nut worked by a screw 23 that is insulated from the remainder of the indicator, this contactor being arranged for en" gagement by the nut 2| when it is moved a dis tance determined by the position of the contactor 22. Lines 24 are shown as leading from the screw 20 and the screw 23 to establish a control circuit in the lines It, these lines 24 being the same with which the switch I! is connected.

With the described arrangement it is possible to adjust the contactor 22 so'that each time the bucket arrives atits dumping position automatic dumping is effected. When the switch I! is used, the operator should use it to close the circuit through the track-cables, latch motor on which may be constructed with either single or twin track-cables. the track cables, traction rope and bucket are made of metal and are, therefore, electrically conductive.

I claim:

1. An aerial tramway system including a metal aerial track, a traveling bucket riding said track with a dumping door having a releasable catch provided with an electrically powered control device, a metal traction rope for moving said bucket along said track, the latter and said rope being electrically insulated from each other, means for electrically connecting said device with It is to be understood that said track and said rope as said bucket is moved by the latter, and means for establishing an electric circuit through said track, said device and said rope to control dumping of said bucket.

2. An aerial tramway system including a metai aerial track, a traveling bucket riding said track with a dumping door having a releasable catch provided with an electrically powered control device, a metal traction rope for moving said bucket along said track, the latter and said rope being electrically insulated from each other, means for electrically connecting said device with said't'rack and said rope as said bucket is moved by the latter, and means for establishing an electric circuit through said track, said device and said rope'to control dumping of said bucket, the

second named means including a contact making means in said circuit that is operatively responsive to the travel of said bucket along said track.

ELMER J. LLOYD. 

